Christian J. Pistilli

Associate

cpistilli@cov.com
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Covington & Burling LLP
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2401
Tel: 202.662.5342


 

Practices

Education

  • Harvard Law School, 2004
    • magna cum laude
    • Sears Prize Winner
    • Ames Moot Court Competition, Winner
    • Harvard Law Review, Articles Co-Chair
  • Haverford College, 1997
    • summa cum laude
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Judicial Clerkship

  • Hon. Amalya L. Kearse, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 2004-2005

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • New York


Chris Pistilli is a litigator whose practice focuses on ERISA, class actions, and other complex civil matters.  Mr. Pistilli has represented defendants in class actions asserting fiduciary duty claims under ERISA, including two ERISA “stock drop” cases, and in individual actions for ERISA benefits.  He has represented financial services industry clients in several nationwide class actions, including lawsuits asserting employment discrimination and “consumer” claims.  Mr. Pistilli has also worked on several high profile ERISA appellate matters.

Representative Matters

  • Represented the Xerox pension plan in Conkright v. Frommert, 130 S. Ct. 1640 (2010), in which the Supreme Court overturned a Second Circuit decision against the Xerox plan and made new law on the question of the deference due to pension plan administrators.
  • Defended GE in ERISA 401(k) “stock drop” case brought on behalf of a nationwide class of over 300,000 participants.  Cavalieri v. General Electric Co., 2009 WL 2426001 (N.D.N.Y. 2009).
  • Defended ERISA plan in suit by participant for disability benefits.  Valentine v. Verizon Pension Plan, 2007 WL 3146385 (N.D.W. Va. 2007).
  • Represented IBM in nationwide class action in state court involving claim for vested retirement benefits.
  • Represented two financial services companies in putative class actions in Massachusetts and Maryland for employment discrimination based on race.
  • Represented financial services company in putative class action alleging violations of state consumer protection statutes.
  • Represented prevailing party in two-week jury trial against client’s partner in case alleging breach of contract and fiduciary duty.

Pro Bono

  • Represent individual convicted of murder and sentenced to life without possibility of parole in West Virginia state habeas proceedings.

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